User Preferences

Context: The artifact will be used by people with differing
abilities, cultures, and tastes.

Problem: How does the artifact present the actions
that the user may take?

Forces:

The user may not be able to use this artifact because of the language /
font size / etc.

The user may want some degree of aesthetic control over the artifact.

Users get a sense of ownership and control over an artifact by modifying
it.

The user probably doesn't want to have to reconstruct their preferences
every time they start a new session with the artifact.

Solution:Provide a place or working surface where
users can pick their own settings for things like language, fonts, icons,
color schemes, and use of sound. Allow users to save those preferences,
so that they don't have to spend time setting them up again, but do this
per user if multiple people will use it. Build the artifact itself to support
such preferences. Devise a set of alternative "canned settings" that
users can choose between, if they don't like the default and don't want
to spend hours picking out good combinations.

Consider users who deal with these common issues, among others:

Primary languages other than English

Colorblind

Visually impaired (most are not 100% blind; large fonts and high contrast
help)

Hearing impaired

RSI (repetitive stress injuries) -- many people cannot easily use their
hands

Resulting Context: These are commonly presented as
a Form of some kind, or as a Control
Panel.

Notes: There's a lot to be said about assistive
technologies, particularly as they relate to computer artifacts, but space
is short. It would be interesting to study successful uses of them and
see what patterns can be found. (Are they already in this language?)